Today's Learning Chagigah 1:6-7 Sponsored by O.C. 128:43-45 Elaine and Jerry Taragin Bava Batra 110 in memory of their parents Yerushalmi-- Shirley and Asriel Taragin A"H Shekalim 31 and Irving Rivkin A"H HAMAAYAN/THE TORAH SPRING edited by Shlomo Katz Terumah Vol. IX, No. 19 (403), 4 Adar I 5755, February 4, 1995 This week's parashah begins to tell of the mishkan-tabernacle. The midrash says that each commodity which was donated to the mishkan parallels one of the nations which oppressed the Jews: gold--Bavel; silver--Persia and Media; copper--Greece; and leather--Rome. Of those, notes Rav Menachem Mendel Stern zatz'l, silver was the only one regarding which there was a commandment that the rich and poor give equally. This was the mitzvah of machatzit hashekel-giving half a shekel. Chazal say that Hashem foresaw that Haman would give Achashveirosh 10,000 shekalim so He gave us this mitzvah in order to protect us. Unlike during ordinary oppression, Rav Stern explains, Haman's decree treated the rich and poor equally and, to counteract it, a mitzvah was needed which the rich and poor performed equally. Throughout our exiles, continues Rav Stern, the rich often have been able to buy some easing of the oppression. Therefore, the rich are less likely to pray for the redemption than are the poor. This is why Chazal say that before the final redemption Hashem will send another king like Haman. Similarly, Chazal say, "Mashiach will not come until the last penny has left the pocket." This is an allusion to the above idea--Mashiach cannot come until all Jews want him. (Derech Emunah) ************************************ The midrash (Tanna D'vei Eliyahu ch.17) states: When the Jews said "We will fulfill and we will hear [the Torah]"-Hashem commanded that they build a mishkan. Rav Yosef Shaul Nathanson zatz'l explains this in light of the debate over whether man or angels are greater. In an absolute sense, angels are on a loftier spiritual plane. However, man is greater in that he has to fight for his standing, whereas angels do not face a yetzer hara. Chazal say that when Bnei Yisrael accepted the Torah they imitated the angels. By saying, "We will fulfill [first] and we will hear," they indicated their willingness to serve Hashem without having to be persuaded, just like the angels. When Hashem wanted the Jews to build Him a "home" (the mishkan), the angels complained, "How can You reside among mortals?" Hashem's answer was that the Jews had said "We will fulfill and we will hear," and thus were like angels. (Divrei Shaul, Mahadura Kamma) ************************************ "And they shall make an Ark of acacia wood." (25:10) Why regarding all of the vessels of the mishkan does it say "you shall make," except for the Ark where it says "they shall make"? Below we offer two answers: Chazal explain that the Ark represents those who study Torah. This verse teaches us, says Rav Eliezer David Gruenwald þ"þþ, that when a person is dedicated to Torah study others are obligated to provide for him. (Chasdei David) ************************************ Rav Azaryah Figo zatz'l explains: The Ark alludes to the Torah, and the use of the plural teaches that the Torah is available for anyone who wants to partake. For this reason, the Ark's depth (height) was less than its length--to teach that the Torah is not so deep as to be inaccessible. (Binah La'ittim) ************************************ The midrash comments on Breishit 1:4: "'And evening came'--this refers to the mishkan; 'and morning came'--this refers to the first [Shlomo's] Bet Hamikdash; 'one day'--this refers to the second Bet Hamikdash." What does this mean? Rav Yehonatan Eyebschutz zatz'l explains as follows: We read in Tehilim (90:4), "For one thousand years are in Your eyes like yesterday and a part of the night." One thousand of our years are equivalent to a little more than a day in Hashem's eyes. To be more precise, one of His days equals 960 of our years. Our haftarah says that the Bet Hamikdash was built 480 years after the Exodus, and therefore, almost the same number of years after the Mishkan was built. Four hundred eighty years is half of Hashem's day. Since the Jewish day begins at sunset, the midrash says that the mishkan was built in the evening and the Bet Hamikdash was built in the morning. The second Bet Hamikdash was built 480 years after the first (i.e. after the 410 years that the first Temple stood plus 70 years of exile). Thus, when the second Bet Hamikdash was built--960 years after the mishkan was constructed--the "day" was over. Regarding the third Bet Hamikdash, the midrash cites Zechariah 14:7: "On that day, there will be neither day nor night." This is because the third Temple will stand forever. (Ahavat Yehonatan) ************************************ This parashah, which deals with making donations to the mishkan, follows Parashat Mishpatim, which includes (among other things) the laws of personal property and theft. This teaches us, says Rav Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik zatz'l, that before one gives his money to charity, he must be sure that it is his money. (Bet Halevi) ************************************ Rav Menachem Mendel Stern born 5519 (1759) - died 9 Adar 5594 (1834) Rav Stern was the rabbi of Sighet, Hungary, following Rav Yehuda Hakohen Heller (author of Kuntres Hasefeikot and brother of the Ketzot Hachoshen). Rav Stern's own teacher was Rav Yaakov Lorberbaum of Lissa, the contemporary and well known disputant of the Ketzot. Among Rav Yaakov's well-known works are Netivot Hamishpat, Chavat Da'at, and Derech Chaim. Rav Stern was the first native-born Hungarian to serve as rabbi of the important Hungarian city of Sighet. In his days the spiritual character of the region changed significantly, due largely to his efforts. He traveled extensively among the surrounding villages, offering the hard-working but poverty-stricken Jews encouragement in both their material and spiritual struggles. Rav Stern's contemporary, the Chatam Sofer, is reported to have called him, "The unique one of his generation." Rav Stern was a chassid of Rav Moshe Leib of Sassov and Rav Mendel of Kossov (ancestor of the Vizhnitzer dynasty); Rav Mendel of Kossov for his part said that chassidim from Sighet should not come to him when they already have Rav Stern in their town. Rav Stern was the author of several works, including Derech Emunah. A dvar Torah from that work appears on the front page of this issue. ************************************ Other Yahrzeits This Week Rav Achai bar Rav Huna: the first of the Rabbanan Savorai, the generation after the Talmud was "sealed"; helped finalize the Talmud's form and is, in fact, mentioned in it; died 4 Adar 4266 (505). Rav Shmuel Abba Shapiro: with his brother, printer of the famous "Slavita Talmud"; grandson of Rav Pinchas of Koretz; died 5 Adar I 5624 (1864). Rav Daniel Prostitz: born 1759; rabbi of Pressburg and colleague of the Chatam Sofer; died 6 Adar 5606 (1846). ********************************** Donations to Hamaayan are tax-deductible.